InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA Burned Area Emergency Response Update – Eagle Creek Fire Team Verifying Preliminary Soil Burn Severity Map September 30, 2017 Hood River, Oregon - The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team assigned to the Eagle Creek Fire is developing a Soil BurnSeverity (SBS) map. The preliminary SBS map is derived from satellite data from before and after the fire and is used to estimate how intensely the fire burned. The initial map identifies areas with a loss of vegetation cover and potential soil damage. BAER Team members have been looking at burned areas on the ground and by air. They are verifying the preliminary SBS map and determining the characteristics of the watersheds, such as soil and rock types, acreage, and how steep are the slopes. Using information from ground and aerial surveys, plus knowledge and experience from years of assessing other burned areas, the soil scientists on the BAER Team are producing maps showing the level of...

• Reunion Comunitaria: El Servicio nacional del Bosque de Rogue River-Siskiyou esta auspiciando una reunion publica el dia de hoy, con el proposito de brindar informacion cronologica del Incendio Chetco Bar. A las 6:00 pm en la Escuela Secundaria Illinois Valley High School, en 625 E. River St., Cave Junction, OR. El dia de hoy En el area del Incendio de Chetco Bar, se continuara realizando el trabajo basado en la repracion de las obras de supresion consistiendo en el reparado de lineas de fuego que ya no se necesitan para hacerlas mas estables, con una estructura mas cercana a su estado natural a travez del astillamiento de madera, limpiado de la maleza y ademas, la instalacion de barreras de agua para evitar la erosion. Las cuadrillas continuaran patrullando para extinguir espacios que han quedado latentes y tambien con el monitoreo de areas que fueron previamente aseguradas desde el aire y en el terreno. El dia de ayer, no se observo la presencia de humo o areas particulares de...

USDA Forest Service, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Emergency Area Closure Order No. 06-10-26-17-39In order to mitigate risk to public safety, a temporary area closure in the Chetco Bar Fire area is effective beginning September 30, 2017. This order supersedes Order No. 06-10-26-17-32. For more details and map, please see related file.

Miller Complex Fire Update September 30, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. Acres: 37,045 Percent Contained: 85% Start Date: August 14, 2017 Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 187 Location: Private land and federal land on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 20 miles west of Ashland, OR. Fire Information: 541-838-0770, Email address: millercomplex2017@gmail.com The expected cold front moved through the area yesterday, bringing cooler temperatures and higher overnight humidity recoveries. Light to moderate showers were seen on the western portion of the Abney Fire. There was one confirmed spot fire on the east side of Dutch Creek, burning in a single tree and covering about one tenth of an acre. Crews were safely able to access the area and contain the spot, using appropriate suppression tactics. Today, crews will continue to patrol along the eastern flank using available road systems to monitor for additional hotspots. Post-suppression work continues on the Creedence and Burnt Peak fires,...

Location: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 22 Acres: 128,272 total acres Cause: Under Investigation Containment: 80% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Note: The containment reflects the percent of operational objectives completed. Cooler weather for the Diamond Creek Fire area Current Activities: Today, two of the North Cascades Smokejumpers will be air lifted into the wilderness to complete trail clearing suppression repair work around the Pasayten Airfield. Resources will also work on suppression repair in the Hidden Lakes area while heavy equipment continues suppression repair of contingency line south of the fire area. North Cascades Smokejumpers completed their task of un-wrapping Goat Peak Lookout during yesterday’s operational period. The load of heat reflective materials was sling-loaded out later that day. A sling-load operation involves slinging an item under an airborne helicopter and flying it to another location. As with previous operational periods,...

Location: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 22 Acres: 128,272 total acres Cause: Under Investigation Containment: 80% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Note: The containment reflects the percent of operational objectives completed. Cooler weather for the Diamond Creek Fire area Current Activities: Today, two of the North Cascades Smokejumpers will be air lifted into the wilderness to complete trail clearing suppression repair work around the Pasayten Airfield. Resources will also work on suppression repair in the Hidden Lakes area while heavy equipment continues suppression repair of contingency line south of the fire area. North Cascades Smokejumpers completed their task of un-wrapping Goat Peak Lookout during yesterday’s operational period. The load of heat reflective materials was sling-loaded out later that day. A sling-load operation involves slinging an item under an airborne helicopter and flying it to another location. As with previous operational periods,...

Daily Update Eagle Creek Fire September 30, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. Fire Information: 541-392-1632 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) eaglecreekfire2017@gmail.com Approximate Fire Size: 48,831 acres Approximate Fire Containment: 46%The cold front that arrived over the fire delivered up to a ¼ inch of rain yesterday. While this was enough to make soils and vegetation damp it did not hamper repair efforts significantly. Precipitation and cooler temperatures are expected throughout the weekend into early next week. Crews were advised during morning briefings to be aware of potentially slippery conditions and to take the extra precautions to ensure their safety.While crews continue making significant progress on repair of fire suppression impacts, the BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) Team continues to evaluate the burned area. They will prescribe emergency response actions to protect people, land, and other resources quickly and effectively. The BAER team has reached out to local, state and federal...

Update for Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, 9 a.m. Fire Information: (541) 719-8371 Online: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/unit/3860/ https://www.facebook.com/WillametteWildfires2017/ Willamettewildfires2017@gmail.com Attention: Firefighters and heavy equipment are still working in parts of the Willamette National Forest and Three Sisters Wilderness. Drivers, hunters and recreationists need to be cautious when using these public lands. Expect slow moving vehicles, know your target and know where you can go before you leave. Forest Roads Open: The following Forest Service Roads along Highway 126 are open to the public: FSR 2664, Robinson Lake Road; FSR 2657, Olallie Creek Road; FSR 2653, Boulder Creek Road; FSR 2649, Scott Creek Road; FSR 2647, Cupola Road; FSR 2643, Foley Ridge Road; and Highway 242, Old McKenzie Highway, from HWY 126 to the gate at Camp White Branch. The Willamette National Forest along these roads is open but the Three Sisters Wilderness remains closed. The Mount...

Community Meeting The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is hosting a public meeting at 6:00 p.m. today at the Illinois Valley High School (625 E. River Street, Cave Junction, OR) to provide a Chetco Bar Fire history and update. Today Suppression repair work – restoring no-longer needed firelines to a more stable, natural state by chipping, dragging brush, and installing waterbars to prevent erosion – will continue in most areas of the Chetco Bar Fire. Crews will also continue to patrol for and extinguish remaining hotspots and monitor previously secured areas from the air and ground. No visible smoke or heat was detected on the Indigo fire yesterday and repair work has been completed. Closures and Safety In order to allow public access for hunting and recreating, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest closure area has been reduced in size following completion of important repair work by fire personnel. Areas to the north and northwest of the Chetco Bar Fire are now open....

The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program is designed to identify and manage potential risks to resources on National Forest System lands and reduce these threats through appropriate emergency measures to protect human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. BAER is an emergency program for stabilization work that involves time-critical activities to be completed before the first damaging storm event to meet program objectives: BAER Objectives: Determine whether imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands exist and take immediate actions, as appropriate, to manage the unacceptable risks. If emergency conditions are identified, mitigate significant threats to health, safety, human life, property and values-at-risk. Prescribe emergency response actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize...

There are three phases of recovery following wildfires on federal lands: Fire Suppression Repair Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Long-Term Recovery and Restoration Fire Suppression Repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer fire lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts. Emergency Stabilization-Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the...

High Cascades Complex - West Zone Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Tim Keith September 30, 2017 Special Announcements: The Lost Creek Marina and Store located in the Joseph Stewart State Park Day Use Area on the Lost Creek Lake remains open for your enjoyment. Please check their website for hours of operation. Hunters please be aware of heavier than normal fire traffic on Forest Roads and watch for fire personnel. Fire Information Center: (541) 316-8352 Available 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. Information Websites: Inciweb – https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF and https://facebook.com/UmpquaNationalForest/ Incident Management Team: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Tim Keith, is managing the High Cascades Complex - West Zone. The incident command post (ICP) is located at the Joseph Stewart State Park near Lost Creek Reservoir southwest of Prospect, Oregon. A...

As of Saturday at 7:00 a.m., Great Basin Incident Management Team #4 will transition the High Cascades Complex East Zone to the home

Management of the fire transitioned to a Type 4 Incident Command Team at 6:00 am Friday September 29 Incident Commanders: Jeremy Johnson, Mark Charlton US Forest Service and Brian Wesemen WA DNR Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and rain that fell on the fire have led to minimal fire activity over the past week. Logs, stump holes, brush and forest litter continue to smolder within the fire perimeter. Smoke will be visible in the interior portions of the fire until snow blankets the area. Visitors to the Cle Elum and Teanaway Valleys will likely smell smoke and at times may see flames as the fire continues to consume downed trees, brush and grass. Most resources assigned to the fire have been released with a small contingent remaining to continue mop up operations, rehabilitate fire lines, back haul remaining equipment and evaluate the area to determine what restoration will be needed. Please do not report the fire to 911 or the Ranger Station unless a structure is threatened or...

Management of the fire transitioned to a Type 4 Incident Command Team at 6:00 am Friday September 29 Incident Commanders: Jeremy Johnson, Mark Charlton US Forest Service and Brian Wesemen WA DNR Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and rain that fell on the fire have led to minimal fire activity over the past week. Logs, stump holes, brush and forest litter continue to smolder within the fire perimeter. Smoke will be visible in the interior portions of the fire until snow blankets the area. Visitors to the Cle Elum and Teanaway Valleys will likely smell smoke and at times may see flames as the fire continues to consume downed trees, brush and grass. Most resources assigned to the fire have been released with a small contingent remaining to continue mop up operations, rehabilitate fire lines, back haul remaining equipment and evaluate the area to determine what restoration will be needed. Please do not report the fire to 911 or the Ranger Station unless a structure is threatened or...

Reunion Comunitaria: El Servicio nacional del Bosque de Rogue River-Siskiyou esta auspiciando 2 reuniones publicas el dia de hoy, con el proposito de brindar informacion cronologica del Incendio Chetco Bar. • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. En el Centro de Eventos de Agness RV Park, 4215 Agnes Rd, Agness, OR • 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. En el terreno de la feria del Condado de Curry- Centro de Eventos. 29392 Ellensburg Ave, Gold Beach, OREl dia de hoy: Las cuadrillas continuan en la labor de busqueda y extincion de areas persistentes con emanacion de calor, tambien con la reparacion de danos en las areas afectadas durante los esfuerzos por contener el incendio, y en el monitoreo y patrullaje de las mismas. Se han restaurado alrededor de 60 millas de lineas para excavadores (dozers) y 50 millas de lineas a mano llevandolas a un estado mas estable y natural a travez del astillamiento, arrastrado de maleza y la instalacion de barreras de agua. El dia de ayer, helicopteros derramaron agua con el...

EAGLE CREEK FIRE BAER UPDATE September 29, 2017 Hood River, Oregon - The Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team assigned to the Eagle Creek Fire has been busy since arriving on September 25, 2017. Scientists on the team have been collecting data to identify imminent post-fire threats to values including life, property, natural resources, and cultural resources. BAER Team members took a reconnaissance flight to get an overview of the fire, terrain, and soil burn severity. On the ground, team members are pairing up to validate soil burn severity and visit areas identified as potentially having values at risk. Soils scientists are examining the unburned and burned soil structures to identify erosion concerns and the potential for increased water runoff. Geologists are looking at areas where landslides and rockfalls could could potentially endanger people or impact roads, structures, recreation facilities, streams, and other resources downhill. Engineers are checking roads for areas...

Miller Complex Fire Update September 29, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. Acres: 36,654 Percent Contained: 80% Start Date: August 14, 2017 Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 177 Location: Private land and federal land on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 20 miles west of Ashland, OR. Fire Information: 541-838-0770, Email address: millercomplex2017@gmail.com Over the last two days, the Abney Fire grew by about 400 acres. A smoke column was visible yesterday from the Dutch Creek area. Due to steep slopes, poor access, and heavy fuel loading ground crews were not committed to build direct containment lines. A heavy helicopter dropped water buckets throughout the shift to slow fire growth. Overall, fire managers view this as a beneficial piece of natural fire that burned as they expected well within established containment lines. Cooler weather is forecasted through the weekend, bringing lower temperatures and higher humidity that should lead to a decrease in fire activity. Light to...

Location: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 22 Acres: 128,272 total acres Cause: Under Investigation Containment: 80% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Note: The containment reflects the percent of operational objectives completed. North Cascades Smokejumpers unwrap Goat Peak Lookout Current Activities: During yesterday’s operational period, the North Cascade Smokejumpers un-wrapped Goat Peak Lookout. Wrapping is a technique in which heat reflective material is used to protect structures potentially in the path of a fire. Heavy equipment continued suppression repair of contingency line yesterday, and remain to work south of the fire with similar objectives today. As with previous operational periods, resource advisors will continue evaluation of the remaining suppression repair activities. Air and ground resources will continue to monitor fire activity. Various heavy equipment and overhead personnel remain assigned to the fire. Pat Creek and Monument Creek areas...

Location: 11 miles NNW of Mazama, WA Total Personnel: 22 Acres: 128,272 total acres Cause: Under Investigation Containment: 80% Start Date: July 23, 2017 Note: The containment reflects the percent of operational objectives completed. North Cascades Smokejumpers unwrap Goat Peak Lookout Current Activities: During yesterday’s operational period, the North Cascade Smokejumpers un-wrapped Goat Peak Lookout. Wrapping is a technique in which heat reflective material is used to protect structures potentially in the path of a fire. Heavy equipment continued suppression repair of contingency line yesterday, and remain to work south of the fire with similar objectives today. As with previous operational periods, resource advisors will continue evaluation of the remaining suppression repair activities. Air and ground resources will continue to monitor fire activity. Various heavy equipment and overhead personnel remain assigned to the fire. Pat Creek and Monument Creek areas...